Narrator: Listen to part of a lecture in a biology class. Professor: Today we’ll talk about mimicry, where one species evolves to resemble another. There are two main types: Batesian and Müllerian. In Batesian mimicry, a harmless species imitates a harmful one. For example, a non-poisonous butterfly might look like a poisonous one to avoid predators. The predator learns to avoid the pattern after a bad experience with the real poisonous butterfly. In Müllerian mimicry, two harmful species evolve to look alike. This is beneficial because predators learn to avoid the shared pattern more quickly, since they encounter both species. A classic example is the monarch and viceroy butterflies. For years, scientists thought viceroy was a Batesian mimic, but research showed viceroy is also toxic. So they are Müllerian mimics. This distinction matters because it changes how we understand predator-prey dynamics and the evolution of warning signals. Any questions?
❓ Pregunta What does the professor imply about the viceroy butterfly?
A. It is a Batesian mimic because it is harmless.
B. It is a Müllerian mimic with the monarch butterfly.
C. It is less toxic than the monarch butterfly.
D. It has no predators due to its coloration.
✅ Respuesta correcta
It is a Müllerian mimic with the monarch butterfly.
TOEFL Listening Tips
Skim the questions first to predict the content
Watch for signal words in lectures and conversations (however, actually, in fact)
For main idea questions, focus on the beginning; for detail questions, focus on examples and data
For attitude questions, pay attention to the speaker's tone and word choice
Take notes on keywords; don't try to write down every word